Horse DNA found in beef products at Dutch facility

Horse meat has once again been found in beef products, this time in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has preventatively blocked beef shipments from an unnamed slaughterhouse after testing found horse DNA in four batches of beef products. Officials found the DNA during an investigation by the Intelligence and Investigation Service.

The agency also has blocked 690 tons of meat currently in the slaughterhouse’s freezers from being shipped until the company provides information on the origin of the meat. Additionally, NVWA has asked for information on meat shipments made between Jan. 1 and Jan. 23. The company has until Feb. 3 to comply. If they fail to do so, NVWA has said the slaughterhouse could be suspended. Currently, the slaughterhouse is under the supervision of a NVWA veterinarian and inspector, according to a statement from the agency.

The United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) also announced today its third quarterly report regarding testing for horse DNA in beef products. Of the 6,069 samples submitted during the quarter, none were found to contain horse meat above the 1 percent reporting threshold.